The Baby Cubby

I've had several friends who have become pregnant in the last few months and have learned a great deal of "Baby Must Haves" for every parent.

It's not just a baby store. It's so much more than that! It's a resource for parents and parents-to-be. Baby Cubby basically is the researcher and tester for the best and safest baby gear and provide it to parents in a fun shopping experience. And of course they price match--even amazon, and offer free shipping nationwide. So you KNOW you're getting a great deal. As an avid Amazon Prime shopper, this is such a relief to know I am getting the best deal possible.

I've compiled a list of 5 Baby Must Haves for every parent. 

1. Diaper Bag | This might sound like a no-brainer but where else are you going to store all the necessities? From diapers, to lotion, sunscreen, to water and snacks. Even a few extra pairs of clothes.

2. Furniture | Crib, co-sleeper, changing table, dresser, hamper, rocking chair or glider. i really like the 4 in 1 Convertible Crib.

Convertible Crib with Toddler Rail -Espresso

3. Feeding | Whether you breast feed or not. You'll need a breast feeding cloth,  bottles, breast pump, etc. And storage if you need to refrigerate or freeze any extra milk to save for your baby for feeding time.

4. Baby Care | The Health and Safety of your baby is your number one priority. Making sure harmful chemicals are kept away from baby's reach is very important. Making sure you have safety cabinet knobs up in the right places will keep your baby from grabbing things they shouldn't. I also really like the idea of baby monitors because you can check up on your baby at anytime without having to disrupt them.

5. Gear | Strollers and Car Seats are a few must haves for every parent. They have a wide selection and have handpicked and tested the best, safest choices for your family.

I love how the Baby Cubby feels more like a family with their online community where you can follow along as a great resource through the amazing journey of parenthood.  My favorite is the Community Blog.

Diaper Bags

Diaper Bags

Are you a first time Mom or an experienced Mom? What are your 5 must haves? I would love to hear you sound them off in the comments! I am still learning and need to hear all the best advice from those who have experienced pregnancy and motherhood.

Current Obessions

New Year. New Obsessions.
Anyone else obsess over some things too? Where you can't get enough! Or is it just me?
These are my current favorites that I can't get enough of.

L I P S E N S E | Probably my favorite makeup product thus far. I got so irritated using lip gloss because it was too messy. I hated leaving lip imprints on my mugs and anything
I ate  or drank. I always worried about it smudging or smearing across my face if the wind blew. With lipsense, I no longer have that issue and the color lasts all day. I order mine from Dressing Dallas. (P.S. I am hosting a Lipsense party on facebook- if you want the deets let me know! You can WIN some free lipsense to try!)

B O O T I E S | I am loving ankle booties lately.  You can dress them up or dress them down. Perfect for a casual yet comfortable wear all day. I am currently loving this pair from Shoe Dazzle. & If you sign up for VIP (cancel anytime) you can get one for $10 right now. Plus they have a ton of great sales under $10 right now. And as a member you get free shipping.

L U L A R O E | The hype is true. Once you buy one, it's hard to stop the obsession!  I just can't get enough. They are so comfortable and fashionable. I buy mine from Sasha or Megan and Crystal on facebook.

I N D I A N  C L A Y  M A S K | Since the New Year, I took it to myself to give myself more ME time this year. I am loving this easy Indian Clay Mask. It's all natural, and super easy to do. It takes no more than 15 total minutes. It pulls all the impurities, black heads and feels so fresh. Since I've used it, I've noticed major improvement on my skin. (Even my mom commented how great my skin looks.) All you need is this Aztec Indian Clay & Apple Cider Vinegar. I got mine on Amazon. (Get prime and get free shipping!)

What are you currently obsessed with?


*This is not a sponsored post. Please note that I use some affiliate links throughout my blog posts, however, all opinions and reviews are 100% my honest opinion and products I use.*

 

Is The Beverage Package Worth It On A Cruise?

The husband and I like to enjoy ourselves while on vacation--especially on cruises. When we were planning our honeymoon cruise back in 2014, we really contemplated whether or not the beverage package would be worth it for us. In case you don't know, if you are wanting the beverage package on a cruise, everyone in the room has to pay for one. You can't just have one person get it and mooch drinks off of them. (That would be too good to be true)

You may be wondering if it would be the right choice for you. It can be confusing going through the many details of the different variations of packages.  You may be asking yourself The Classic Package? The Premium Package?  Shelling out all that money all at once may seem really expensive, especially considering you’ve already put out the money for the cruise itself. 

 You need to keep in mind that not all cruise companies offer the same packages, and some companies do not offer them at all if you are cruising less than 5 days. You also need to decide what drinks you normally will have on-board. Are you more of a wine drinker or do you like to mix it up and have some cocktails and mix in a glass of wine for dinner?  Some cruises offer beer and wine packages which are cheaper than the premium packages that offer both mixed drinks and beer and wine. Also keep in mind that most cruise ships allow 2 bottles of wine per guest to bring on board. (You can also be sneaky and put your favorite vodka in a wine bottle and sneak it on.)

Check the price lists and compare. Most cruise websites will show you the price list. A glass of wine could be $12, cocktails $12, Beer $6. Keep in mind that does not include gratuities if you are purchasing as you go. A lot of the time, the beverage package includes the gratuities. In fact, I do not know a cruise that does not include the gratuities in the beverage package price. Those $1 tips could add up fast (As we learned on our honeymoon).

Most of the drink packages include bottled water. This was the most requested item. I always had a bottle of water on hand when exiting the cruise for our excursions and the amount of water I drank alone would have costed well over the daily drink package price.
Obviously the drink package price differs per cruise, but it was worth it for us.  We would have paid a lot more at the end of the cruise if we were to have paid as we went. For us it was well worth it to not have to limit what we wanted. The drink package include the sodas and juices as well so we were able to enjoy fresh orange juice whenever we wanted.

Cruises also offer Non-Alchoholic packages that include juices, bottled water and sodas. This may be the best for you if you prefer to stay away from alcohol or if you have children who would take advantage of the soda, water and juice. (You can always get a soda and bring it off the ship to enjoy during the day so you don't need to purchase any off ship)

It may seem difficult to shell out the money before hand (Although they do offer to add on the drink package on board) but for us it was well worth it and we ended up saving a lot of money in the long run. We were also able to try new drinks without the worry of "wasting" money on them if we did not like them. It's also more relaxing knowing we didn't have to worry about budgeting for drinks. We just hand over the card and it was taken care of.

If we were to break it down, we would have spent $30 more dollars or so per day if we were to pay per drink without the drink package. 

Additional Thoughts (Thanks to Savored Journeys for pointing these out)

• Something to think about when deciding if a drink package is worth it is the gratuity that is added to each drink without the package. An 18% service charge will be added to waters, sodas, and wine when you purchase. Most package prices either include the 18% service charge when you buy-- not per drink

• It’s a good idea to consider how many sea days and port days you have. If you are having a lot of port days, you may be better off paying for drinks as you go. Unless you want to bring a few bottled waters or sodas off the ship every day.

What are your thoughts on the benefits of purchasing a drink package? Do you think buying the beverage package is worth it on a cruise? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

New Year. New You! Fit and Fabulous

Whenever I hear about New Years Resolutions the first thing that comes to mind is: Get In Shape. I always see the gyms jam packed with cars starting Jan 1 and then it slowly dies off by March and people stop going as much as they were the beginning of the year.

What if I told you that you can workout in the comfort of your own home and it won't feel like a chore. What if I told you that you will have a personal trainer and a group of empowering women as your accountability partners?  What if I told you that this program actually works and will not cost you an arm and a leg? (Plus you will have some lifelong online friends.)

Courtney is the owner and mastermind of putting together the Fit and Fabulous Club and Operation BootyCamp. She'll teach you How to beat sugar cravings, feel energetically fabulous and teach you how to meal plan while also providing some AMAZING easy recipes that are delicious!

I get it, you're thinking "Where can I find the time to workout with my busy schedule?"

I'm right there with you girl! Between balancing my day job to running my own online business, it's hard to find that extra time to take care of myself. But that's just it. Courtney helps you organize your time and schedule and fits in the workouts that work for YOU. My favorite part is you can keep up to date with your workouts through her own app personalized just for you. It comes in handy when you are vacationing or on the go and don't have access to a computer.  I also love following her on Instagram where I can stay up to date with NEW workouts, Inspirational quotes, cute workout outfits, amazing products and more!

 You can also keep up to date on her blog where she posts tips, recipes and more!

Photo: Courtney Bentley

There's a few AMAZING plans you can choose from. I signed up for the fit and fabulous 30 day challenge and am LOVING it.

• Monthly Fit and Fabulous Club ($9.95/month)  

              You won't even notice the $9.95 charge every month especially when it's for YOU.

• √ INCLUDES: Quick, Effective Workouts Plans to Get You Motivated and ON Track with Follow Along Videos, New Plans Added MONTHLY
• √ INCLUDES: Access to a Workout Library with HOW TO's and Tutorials 
• √ INCLUDES: Private Member Forum to Support You on Your Journey and Hold you ACCOUNTABLE- Make friends, get coaching from me and SUPPORT! 
• √ INCLUDES: Meal Plans, Recipes Guides and Meal Prep Tips, New Recipes Added MONTHLY 
• √ INCLUDES: Live Streaming Q+A/Mastermind Every Week, Connect with Other Members and SLAY your business 
• √ BONUS:  Access to Jump start in 10 Day Challenge Meal Plan and Workout Program to Set You Up for SUCCESS 
• √ BONUS: Access to any program I create through the time of your membership
•  √ BONUS: Access to a Smartphone APP with your Workouts, Check ins and Messenger with ME!

• Fit and Fabulous 30 Day Challenge 

• √ INCLUDES: 30 Day Muscle Toning Workout Program Easily Accessed through a Smartphone App  
• √ INCLUDES: 30 day Fat Burning Meal Plan  with over 100+ Easy Recipes to Use
• √ INCLUDES:Official Fit and Fabulous Guidebook 
• √ INCLUDES:Coaching Support from ME as your Coach
• √ INCLUDES:Private Group with girls just like YOU to support you and keep you motivated. 
• √ INCLUDES:Daily Email with Motivational Quotes
• √ INCLUDES: Check In with Office Hours, Coaching Call 

• Jumpstart 10 Day Challenge (One time fee of $19.95- Less than $2 a day for 10 days)

• √ INCLUDES: 10-day Meal Plan (downloadable PDF) so you can learn how to eat for health & weight loss
• √ INCLUDES: 10 days of video workouts so you can learn the fastest, most effective methods for getting in shape
• √ INCLUDES: 10 days of Motivating reminders directly from me, sent directly to your Inbox, so you can keep up your momentum, even on tough days
• √ INCLUDES: Access to the Fit & Fabulous Jumpstart FB Group so that you can create a network of like minded people to support you while you make this important change
• SPECIAL BONUS: An ongoing recipe guide for you to use after the 10-Day Jumpstart so you can keep achieving your fitness goals long after you've completed the Jumpstart step-by-step program

If you aren't sure what the best option is for you, come join the Facebook group. Meet some new friends and accountability sisters and lets all help each other get motivated again! Honestly, what do you have to lose?

Are YOU ready to join me? 

Comment your 2017 goals this year. I'd LOVE to hear them!

*BONUS* Get a FREE glittered sports bottle to use if you sign up for ANY of the fitness plans courtesy of Showered With Design.

(Just pay shipping and handling) 

Leave a Comment when you sign up with the plan you chose and your Instagram handle.

Christmas Recap

Hoping everyone had a blessed Christmas! It's always so difficult getting back in the swing of things after some time off from work and celebrating the Holidays.

 I ended up taking the Friday before Christmas off work to catch up on some last minute orders that were placed. I worked for about 4 hours completing all that needed to be done, and wrapping some Christmas presents too! Then of course my hubby wanted to do some last minute shopping. I thought he was crazy for wanting to go to the mall a few days before Christmas. But sure enough he surprised me with a new Iphone 7Plus which I have been needing to upgrade my phone since I use it a ton for my business. So if anyone is needing an inexpensive Iphone 5C, I have one for sale now :) - In great condition. 
So once we braved the mall (Which surprisingly wasn't all that busy- we headed home to clean up and my hubby had to go into work).

The next morning we went over to my parents so I could help my mom prepare the appetizers and get a head start on prepping food. Once we finished that, we decided to brave the mall yet again, because we had some last minute gifts we forgot we needed! (We certainly were not prepared this year!) Luckily it wasn't too bad at the mall and we weren't there for very long. We came back home to freshen up and went to dinner at my favorite Japanese Steakhouse - Bari Bari. We had too much fun and my mom ended up taking home the leftover Saki we ordered. 

After dinner we took a family walk (including the pups!) around the lake to look at lights. Once we got back, we of course had to take a few photos by the tree. We got silly and did a "prom pose" haha. (They got a little blurry towards the end of the night). We watched a few Christmas movies and fell asleep to them shortly after.

On Christmas morning we woke up early to begin opening presents. We always gift some cute new toys for the pups and I always put the bows from the presents on them. They don't seem to mind, but it makes for a great photo!

I also love my new lipsense from Dressing Dallas- Loving my new colors! You can shop for yours here. I can honestly say I am hooked! It doesn't come off when you drink your favorite beverages so you won't leave any marks on your cups! I love that! It's my new favorite obsession and I need to get more colors!

My hubby ran out to the grocery store and brought me back some Starbucks. That was such a lovely surprise as I'm sure it was super busy on Christmas.

My aunt and cousins came over mid afternoon and we played some board games (Yahtzee) and attempted to put a 1000 piece puzzle together. We didn't get close to finishing but we did get the border completed thank goodness! I used my "There's a chance this is Wine" cup throughout the day and received many compliments on it. 

How was your Christmas? What are some Christmas traditions you do with your loved ones?

 

Wine Exchange 2016

 

 

I participated in a wine exchange on facebook.. I figured why not? I didn't have anything to lose, and heck... tis the season. You send one bottle of wine and can get anywhere between 6-36+ in return. How can you not love that? I only sent one bottle (through Amazon), it's been two weeks and I've already received 7, and I received a few e-mails stating more are on the way! I probably won't get 36, that's a long shot, but I am happy with what I received so far :)

If you are interested in participating and have a facebook, comment below with your e-mail so I can send you the details! It's really simple and fun! 

Friendsmas!

 I started the weekend off attending the boat parade by my parents house. It was so fun to walk around and see all the boats lit up and listen to Holiday music.  I purchased these LED light collars from Paw Prime for my dogs so it's easier to see them in the dark when I take them for walks.  They got some extra attention for wearing them, so they are definitely dog approved! They took some time to ship to me, but I am really happy with the purchase and secretly get excited to use them! You can get a FREE collar, just pay shipping! And you can choose your color! I chose red for both my dogs.

On Saturday, my friends and I got together and planned a Friendsmas party. My girlfriend hosted at her house and cooked turkey and stuffing, I brought my famous green chili corn dip that everyone requests, green beans, and the other ladies brought over salad, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, rolls and desserts! There were too many hilarious moments such as: massaging the turkey, shoving butter up it's hoo-ha, spilling one batch of stuffing on the floor, and laughing so hard we almost peed. We also had a white elephant exchange and I ended up with a mermaid tail blanket which I have been wanting forever! Photos to come! 

One of my friends started up her own etsy shop, and she makes adorable wine decor! (Like the Santa one pictured above) She still needs to update and add more items to her shop, but you should totally go give her shop some love and "like"/favorite some items! (She got her first 40 listings FREE using my special code, HERE.


I am SO behind in my Christmas shopping, however I did order a few things from different etsy shops to #supportsmallshops this Holiday, so I will share those in the upcoming weeks :). How are you doing on your shopping?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway posted last week! You can win a Gold Macbook Air --You don't want to miss out on this beauty!


 

Amazing Giveaway

I've teamed up with some AMAZING bloggers to bring you a fantastic giveaway just in time for the Holidays! What better way to celebrate, right? If these were on your Christmas list, you won't be disappointed! Perfect for every blogger. What do you have to lose?

a Rafflecopter giveaway